“Earliest known extant concrete bridge” is quite the title to live up to. But the Interlachen Bridge near the Harriet Avenue Bridge wears it well.
Today we will explore the Interlachen Bridge. It is a reinforced concrete arch bridge. You will find it on William Berry Parkway. It stretches gracefully between Bde Maka Ska and Lake Harriet.
This bridge crosses the Como-Harriet Streetcar Line. It is a heritage streetcar line. The Minnesota Streetcar Museum operates it. The line follows the original Twin Cities Rapid Transit route.
Local builder William S. Hewett designed the Interlachen Bridge. It stands as one of Minnesota’s most significant bridges. Why? Because its construction date is well-documented.
The Interlachen Bridge secured a spot on the National Register of Historic Places. That happened November 6, 1989. It was recognized as part of the Reinforced-Concrete Highway Bridges.
The Interlachen Bridge design incorporates the Melan reinforcing system. Josef Melan, a Viennese engineer, invented it. He patented it in the United States in 1894.
The bridge provided access to the streetcar line. Stairs on the south side lead to the Cottage City stop. Cottage City was the name of the neighborhood it served. Streetcar service ended in 1954. The neighborhood became part of Linden Hills. The station remains largely intact.
Not far from here you’ll find the Queen Avenue Bridge. It is a similar bridge over the same streetcar right-of-way. The Minneapolis Street Railway Company built the Queen Avenue Bridge. It replaced a wooden bridge in 1905. The Queen Avenue Bridge is an early example of reinforced concrete arch bridge in Minnesota. It also contributes to the Grand Rounds Historic District.
These bridges remind us of the importance of transit. They highlight the innovation of early 20th-century engineering. The Interlachen Bridge and Queen Avenue Bridge helped shape Minneapolis. They are more than mere crossings. They link communities and eras.
Next time you cross a bridge consider its history. Think about the people and innovations. They made these structures possible. They connect us to the past and future.